MLB

Beltran homers, blunders into ‘embarrassing’ play on bases

OAKLAND, Calif — On the same day Carlos Beltran forgot how many outs there were and wandered off first base in a miserable loss, the switch-hitter may have rediscovered his swing.

Beltran hit a ground ball in the eighth inning of the Yankees’ 10-5 loss to the Athletics at O.co Coliseum to force Brian McCann out at second. Thinking it was the third out, Beltran walked away from first and was tagged out.

“I thought there were two outs [before the play],’’ Beltran said.

“It’s an embarrassing play, it probably has happened to all of us,’’ said Joe Girardi, who was encouraged with Beltran’s 2-for-4 day that included his first homer since he came back from the disabled list.

“I had a positive feel and hit the ball hard in every at-bat,’’ said Beltran, who sat out Saturday’s game and was 4-for-31 since coming off the DL on June 5. “Hopefully I can build from that.’’

A talk with Reggie Jackson during batting practice Saturday helped Beltran.

“I felt great at the plate, my rhythm was really good today. A lot of what I did today came from that time with Reggie,’’ Beltran said. “When he speaks you have to listen.’’


Derek Jeter had played in eight straight games and Sunday’s day game followed a night game, so the opportunity to rest the shortstop was there for Girardi.

However, Jeter was in the lineup.

“We are off [Monday] and we had [last] Monday off and he has been swinging the bat extremely well, so I thought it was best to leave him in,’’ Girardi said. “If we have to give him a day off sometime next week we will give him a day off. I know it’s a short turnaround but he says he feels good.’’

Jeter went 1-for-3 and is riding a 10-for-23 (.435) stretch.


The A’s, represented by manager Bob Melvin and hitting coach Chili Davis, a former Yankees teammate, presented Jeter with a vintage 2009 bottle of wine, reservations in the Napa Valley region and a $10,000 check for his Turn 2 Foundation before the game.

Jeter played his last regular-season game at the Coliseum and takes a lifetime .338 batting average away from the stadium.


Ichiro Suzuki had two hits and tied Ken Griffey Jr. — his teammate in Griffey’s final two years in Seattle — for 49th place on the all-time hit list at 2,781.


Mark Teixeira (back spasms) returned to the lineup after not playing Saturday night and had an RBI double in three at-bats.

“I am very happy it responded to treatment and it was a good day,’’ Teixeira said. “Joe and Stevie [Donohue, the Yankees’ trainer] were afraid I might have pulled something.’’


Brian Roberts missed a second straight game with a bruised right knee. Roberts, who has seven hits in 39 at-bats (.179) fouled a ball off his leg Friday night.

As a result, Yangervis Solarte started at second for the second straight game. It was the 12th time Solarte played second. He went 0-for-3 and is in a 4-for-27 (.148) funk.


Wade LeBlanc refused a minor league assignment and opted for free agency. He appeared in one game for the Yankees, giving up two runs in an inning of relief on June 4 against the A’s at Yankee Stadium.


Francisco Cervelli is expected to come off the DL in time for Tuesday’s game against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. Since the Yankees aren’t going to carry three catchers, John Ryan Murphy will be optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Murphy had a tough weekend. He was charged with two passed balls Saturday night and another Sunday and went 0-for-5, including 0-for-2 with a strikeout on Sunday.